infect
verb (used with object)
to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.
infected
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past participleof infect.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
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past tense formof infect.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
infectverb (used with object)to affect or contaminate (a person, organ, wound, etc.) with disease-producing germs.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
One important mechanism involves causing infected cells to die in a controlled, localized area, helping prevent the pathogen from spreading farther through the plant.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person who has developed symptoms, or through contaminated materials.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
And plague symptoms emerge really quickly, sometimes within a day, which means less opportunity for an infected person to spread the disease without knowing.
From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026
Public health officials are investigating which rabies strain the raccoon was infected with.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
“If they released the virus in the ballroom, then Stavros would be infected too. He wouldn’t infect himself.”
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
